What will YOU do with your November?
Hey everyone!
I have sort of an announcement to make...no--strike that! A challenge!
November is coming, and all you writers (either aspiring or published) know what November is:
NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH!
I first heard of NaNoWriMo a few years ago, but this is the first time I've ever taken part. The mission of the program is to encourage people to write the first draft a 50,000 word novel between 12:01 a.m. November first and 11:59 p.m. November 30.
Can it be done? You bet.
Will your novel be perfect? Absolutely not.
Could there be some really good stuff in your first draft that you can make even better with your second? Almost always.
A lot of you write me emails or come up to me at conferences and say things like "I'd like to write a book someday, but every time I try it ends up sounding stupid." And you know what I have to say to that? Join the freaking club.
Seriously.
Every writer I know has a box of really bad books (or, in my case, screenplays) hidden under a bed or in the back of the closet or something. I mean it, guys--we ALL have them! I like to call them "the dirty water books."
What are the dirty water books, you might ask. Well, I'll tell you.
You know how when a garden hose lays outside for too long without being used and then one day you turn on the water? You know how the water that comes out first is always dirty and rusty looking and full of spiders and leaves and stuff?
Well guess what? Writing is exactly the same way. What comes out first is ALWAYS the dirty water--full of nonsense and trash.
How do you get to the clean water? You let it run.
Same with writing. The only way to get to the good stuff is to just let the water run and run and run until the words start coming better and the story makes more sense and you know who your characters really, truly are at their cores.
The only way to find the center of the story is to let the water run.
So that's what I'll be doing this November. I plan on turning on the tap on November 1 and I expect a lot of trash to come out--but that's okay.
A lot of extremely talented writers are going to be doing this with me, and if you want to join then I think that would be great as well. Sign up is free at www.nanowrimo.org.
AND...they have a junior NaNo program this year for you teens and pre-teens so...
Let that water run!
Oh, and just in case you're wondering, I'll be writing a little book called Gallagher Girls 3, so if you sign up and take part...we would technically be writing our books together.
Just in case you're interested.
--Ally
I have sort of an announcement to make...no--strike that! A challenge!
November is coming, and all you writers (either aspiring or published) know what November is:
NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH!
I first heard of NaNoWriMo a few years ago, but this is the first time I've ever taken part. The mission of the program is to encourage people to write the first draft a 50,000 word novel between 12:01 a.m. November first and 11:59 p.m. November 30.
Can it be done? You bet.
Will your novel be perfect? Absolutely not.
Could there be some really good stuff in your first draft that you can make even better with your second? Almost always.
A lot of you write me emails or come up to me at conferences and say things like "I'd like to write a book someday, but every time I try it ends up sounding stupid." And you know what I have to say to that? Join the freaking club.
Seriously.
Every writer I know has a box of really bad books (or, in my case, screenplays) hidden under a bed or in the back of the closet or something. I mean it, guys--we ALL have them! I like to call them "the dirty water books."
What are the dirty water books, you might ask. Well, I'll tell you.
You know how when a garden hose lays outside for too long without being used and then one day you turn on the water? You know how the water that comes out first is always dirty and rusty looking and full of spiders and leaves and stuff?
Well guess what? Writing is exactly the same way. What comes out first is ALWAYS the dirty water--full of nonsense and trash.
How do you get to the clean water? You let it run.
Same with writing. The only way to get to the good stuff is to just let the water run and run and run until the words start coming better and the story makes more sense and you know who your characters really, truly are at their cores.
The only way to find the center of the story is to let the water run.
So that's what I'll be doing this November. I plan on turning on the tap on November 1 and I expect a lot of trash to come out--but that's okay.
A lot of extremely talented writers are going to be doing this with me, and if you want to join then I think that would be great as well. Sign up is free at www.nanowrimo.org.
AND...they have a junior NaNo program this year for you teens and pre-teens so...
Let that water run!
Oh, and just in case you're wondering, I'll be writing a little book called Gallagher Girls 3, so if you sign up and take part...we would technically be writing our books together.
Just in case you're interested.
--Ally
posted by Ally Carter at Friday, October 26, 2007
18 Comments:
Hey Ally!
I just wanted to let you know I LOVED GG2! I finished it a couple of days ago. I'd have been done a long time ago, but my stupid bookstore didn't have it when I went in, so I had to get to a different one. But it was great and I can't wait for the third one!
<3 Alli
Ally!
You've gotten me so pumped!!
*Turns on brain faucet*
Thanks for posting this. :)
I think I might try this, I'm pretty busy but I've always loved a challenge!!
Omg, yay! Ally Carter is doing NaNoWriMo too!!
You don't even understand how happy that made me, you just made my day lol
I'm doing NaNoWriMo for the second year. It's incredibly fun and lot's of hard work, but very rewarding. I hope you have fun!! Glad to hear you are working on GG3.
I just signed up to do NaNoWriMo. This is my first time doing it. I'm exicited and a little bit nervous. But i'm for the challeged. And that is cool that your going to work on GG3. I just finished GG2 and I loved it!!!
Dominique
hurray!! ally's joining the NaNo race!! i've been signed up since oct. 6th, and i'm sooo pumped for it, it's not even funny. lol so i think you've inspired me just a bit more to keep reaching to finish my first draft since you'll be doing it too. :)
Briana
yes your doing a third book. i just finished GG2 like 3 minutes ago. it was soooooo good!
I just signed up for NaNoWriMo. This is my first time to do this.
What's your NaNo name? Mine is HarmonySake. I'm doing the NaNo too and can't wait to start! Good luck!
this is random, but everyone should watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It is the Funniest movie ever! Especially when they meet the knights who say "Ni" or "ekke ekke ekke ekke ptang zoo boing". Also Charlie the Unicorn on YouTube, it is so funny! I know it sounds stupid but it is really funny!
i just singhed up for the writing thing and i need ideas to write about
oh by the way my name is birdy9638 on it
And for those in Kansas, I understand there is a group meeting at the Chanute library :0)
yo ally!!(he he) just wanted to tell u that gg2 was awe-some and i'm so excited for gg3(not to put on any more pressure on u). i love ur work and will definitely keep reading until u retire (or die) whichever comes first. after that i'll keep reading until i die. i might try that nanowrimo thing out. sounds super fun!!!!!
lov ya, a GalGirl at heart
Woo-hoo!! I'm doing this too!
And there's going to be some NaNoWriMo participant chats on the readergirlz forum next month, so stay tuned for that!
i'm doing NaNoWriMo too!
thanks for posting it.
also, I loved GG2. I finished it in 3.5 hours!
OMG!!!!!!!
You've just made me happy! I joined several hours ago and if you go on NaNo for the youngsters and type in gallaghergal my story with come up. "Once is Fate, Twice is Destiny" Unfortuanetly, I'm at a major writers block! 1142 words so far. *Sighs*
~Meagan Elizabeth
BTW: Whats your username on NaNo, Ally?
hey ally!
I ABSOLUTLY LOVED GG1 AND GG2!!! they are so good, they had me like non-stop ready for a whole 2 hours! there like so creative and just plain brilliant! im gonna be counting off the days until the 3rd one comes out! i *CANT* wait!!!
<3 <3 <3!
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